Ebola virus (EBOV) can persist in immunologically protected body sites in survivors of Ebola virus disease, creating the potential to initiate new chains of transmission. From the outbreak in West Africa during 2014–2016, we identified 13 possible events of viral persistence–derived transmission of EBOV (VPDTe) and applied predefined criteria to classify transmission events based on the strength of evidence for VPDTe and source and route of transmission. Leer más…

BACKGROUND:

While a number of predictors for Ebola mortality have been identified, less is known about post-viral symptoms. The identification of acute-illness predictors for post-viral symptoms could allow the selection of patients for more active follow up in the future, and those in whom early interventions may be beneficial in the long term. Studying predictors of both mortality and post-viral symptoms within a single cohort of patients could also further our understanding of the pathophysiology of survivor sequelae. Leer más…

Since 1976, in more than 40 recorded outbreaks to date, Ebola virus disease (EVD) has dramatically affected the human population across the Central African region and adjacent areas. The large West African outbreak (2013–2015) was a game changer in many aspects, not only with regard to geographical location and the number of patients and deaths, but also in terms of the international community’s response it finally triggered; albeit belatedly so. The progress made in our epidemiological and clinical understanding of the disease was immense, as well as advances in the development of an effective vaccine (e.g. rVZV-ZEBOV), specific therapeutic options (e.g. monoclonal antibodies, convalescent whole blood), and candidates for post-exposure prophylaxis (e.g. Favipiravir) [ ]. Leer más…